Ski poles



Aug. 24, 1965 H. J. BARREcA SKI POLES Filed Nov. 4, 1965 United StatesPatent O PLES Henry J. iarreea, 25 Prospect iace, rooldyn T3, Fiied Nov.4, 1963, Scr. No. 32.63%

6 *Claima (Ci. 289-1137) The present invention relates to an improvedski pole as used in the sport of Skiing.

Ski poles should be strong and light Weight to facilitate their easymanipulation and safe `use. rThey are commonly formed of tubular metalpoles or shafts tapered at their lower ends to points and provided attheir upper ends with handle members. in order to limit the penetrationof the pointed end of the ski pole into the snow a laterally projectingsnow engaging member is mounted on each ski pole a short distance abovethe tip thereof. These snow engaging members are commonly in the form ofrings concenlric with the ski pole and connected thereto radial strapsor by a web and a hub section.

It is important that While the over-all snow ring should be fieible, theconnection thereof to the pole should be firm and secure so as not topermit any relative movement or slipping thereof. Many expedients havebeen employed for securing ski rings to ski poles but these havepossessed many drawbacks and disadvantages. The required firm connectionof the snow ring has been usuaily difcult and costly to acllieve andfrequently has weakened the lower section of the ski pole and theresulting assembly has left much to be desired.

l'n the present invention I provide a ring connection which enlploys aresilient Sleeve as a gripping member. This of itself is, of course, notnew. However, a serious defect in prior sleeves has been their relativefragllty since When stretched, they tend to tear easily. Further, beinggenerally of resilient rubber, the deteriorating action of the sun makesthem short lived. This problem has existed for many years without anysolution to my knowledge.

lt is therefore a principal vObject of the present invention to providean improved ski pole construction which provides improved assemhly of asnow ring to a ski pole and which overcomes the above defect.

Still another 4object of the present invention is to provide an improvedfastening device as used in such assernbly.

A further Object of the present invention is to provide an improved skipole of the above nature characterized by strength, reliability,lightness and low cost, as well as resistance to such wear anddeterioration as above described.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction With the accornpanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a ski pole embodying the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarved fragmentary Vertical medial longitudinalsectional view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the ski ring member;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the securing member;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

Fl-GURE 6 is a fragmentary Vertical iedial longitudinal sectional viewof a modified embodiment; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the snow ring of the modifiedembodirnent, and showing its integral elastoeric looking Sleeve, thecollar having been removed for purposes of clarity.

in a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a skipole comprising an elongated shaft having a bottom section taperedtoward the free end thereof, a

ice

snow engaging member having an opening therein registering With saidtapered section above said free end thereof, an elastomeric Sleeveengaging said bottom section below said snow engaging member, and arelatively rigid collar engaging and compressing said Sleeve.

According to One form of the present device, an abutment definingannulus having an inside diameter smaller than the maximum diameter ofthe shaft bottom section is force fitted onto the tapered section and islocated below the top thereof. The snow engaging member includes a ringconnected by radial spokes or the like to an apertured central hub whichregisters With the shaft tapered section. in said one form theelastomeric Sleeve terminates at its top in a peripheral fiange whichbears against the underface of the snow ring hub and the lower end ofthe Sleeve is provided with a peripheral lip overlyng the bottom edge ofthe Sleeve confining collar and of a diameter which is greater than theinside diameter of the collar so as to serve as additional lookingmeans.

Referring now to the l( lrawirig Which illustrates the first embodimentof the present invention, the reference numeral lt) generally designatesthe improved ski pole which includes an elongated tubular shaft liformed of a strong, light weight material such as aluminum or the like.The shaft H is provided at its lower end with an integrally formedbottom tapered section 12 terminating in a snow penetrating point or tip13. The remainder of the shaft lll. may be slightly tapered or ofuniform crosssection. A handle member 14 of any conventionalconstruction is attached to the upper end of the shaft li and carrles aflexible hand receiving loop or strap 16.

A snow engaging assernbly 13 is positioned on the upper part of thebottom tapered section 12 and includes an abutment member 39, a snowring Zt and a looking device 21. The abutment member 19 is a washer orannulus Which may be likewise formed of aluminum and -has an insidediameter slightly less than that of the maximum diameter of the bottomtapered section 12. The annulus w registers with the section 12 and isforce-fitted to the upper part thereof as will be hereinafter set forth.

The snow ring 2th may be integrally formed of a fieXible material, forexample a low density polyethylene or polypropylerle or similarmaterial, and is in the shape of a wheel including a cylindrical centralhub 22, having an aXial bore 23 formed therein which has an insiderdiameter approximately that of the annulus 19. Radiating from the hub 22are a plurality of spokes 24 which support and are joined at their outerends to a ring section 2d of substantially circnlar transverse crosssection. The snow ring 2G directly underlies the annulus 19, the aXialbore 23 registering with the tapered section 12 and the upper face ofthe hub 22 abutting the annulus 19.

The looking device 21 underlies the hub 22 and comprises a Sleeve 27tightly engaging the tapered section .1.2 and terminating at its upperend in a peripheral fiange 23 the top face of Which bears upon theunderface of the hub 22. The sleeve 27 may be formed of any suitableelastomeric material such as natural or synthetic rubber.

A most important aspect of this invention is the provision of the rigidcollar 29 which surrounds the Sleeve 27 and Inaintains it in a radiallycompressed condition. The collar 29 may be formed of aluminum or othersuitable material. The lower end of the Sleeve 27, in the assembledcondition of the ski pole, is formed with a periphera] lower lip 30which overlies the bottom edge of the collar 29 and is of a diametergreater than the inside diameter of collar 29 so as to provideadditional looking means.

The collar 29 serves a plurality of functions in the device. First, andas is most apparent, it assures a firm and secure coupling among thevarious components and facilitates their Simple and rapid assembly witha minimum of skill. -ILIov/ever, 'a more important advantage is providedin that it protects thelongitudinally tensioned elastomeric Sleeve 27from rapid deterioration Which is normally' consequent to the exposureof rubber and the like to Outdoor weathering conditions includingultra-Violet radiation andv other deteriorating infiuences. Collar 29also prevents damage to the Sleeve 27 by abrasion or the like by ice andother objects which the Ski pole may encounter in use. V

In applying the Snow ring assembly to the Ski pole shaft 11, lthe shaft11 is inverted and the annulus 19 and hub 22 are Slipped onto thetapered Section 12. The locking member 21 which includes the collar 2%,is then pressed over the tip 13 downwardly toward the hub 22, the flange28 confronting the hub 22. A tubular tool having an inside diameterapproximately that of the collar V29-iS then coaxially applied to thefree end face of the collar 29, the tapered Section 12 telescoping intothe tool. Pressure is then applied to the tool oethe tool is struck toadvance the lockingrmember 21 toward the hub 22 and to advance the hub22 and annulus 19, thereby effecting a force fit of the annulus 19 onthe tapered'section 12 and a tight and secure' Sandwiching of the ringhub 22 between the annulus 19 and the flange 28.

.collar 29 and hence a tight non-Slipping connection between the lockingdevice 21 and the Shaft tapered Section 12. It should be noted that thenormal unstressed inside diameter of the Sleeve 27 is lessl than theoutside diameter of the registering part of the tapered section 12 sothat the Sleeve 27 is, in the complete assembly, also under peripheraltension as well as under some longitudinal-l tension.

, l'In the ambodimaut shown in FIGUES 6 and 7, the.

snow ring 30a comprses a metal Wheel 31 to Spaced portions of which isconnected a Web or Spider 32 as is more or less conventional. However,the'sleeve 33 is integral with web 32, these elements being of liverubber or other elastomeric material. Y Sleeve 33 depends downwardly'soas to VServe the same function as Sleeve 27 in the previ- 'ousembodiment.' Collar 34 serves the same function as previouslydescribedcollar 29, it being in the same form thereof. i 7

- Accordingly the Second emb'odiment described has the same advantagesas the first embodiment and has an added advantage 'in that the Sleeve33 is integral with the Snow ring web, thereby not only enhancing thelocking effect thereof but Simplifying the assembly. While there havebeen described and illustrated preferredembodiments of lthe presentinvention, it is apparentthat numerous alterations, omissions andadditions may be made vvithout departing froml the Spirit thereof. Forexample, the integral-Sleeve 33 may be reversed in direction on theshaft by simply reversing the Snow ring 30d So that the Sleeve isoverrather than under the Web 32.

What is claimed is: V

f 1. A Skipole comprisngan elongatedrshaft having a bottom sectiontapered towar'd the free and thereof, a Snow engaging member having anopening therein registering With said tapered Sectionabove Said 'freeend thereof, an elastomeric Sleeve engaging'said bottom section as Wellas Said snow engaging member for Securing said snow engaging member toSaid Shaft, and a relatively rigid collar engaging and compressing SaidSleeve, said collar being open at both ends thereof and looking saidSleeve and Said Snow en'gaging member to Said Shaft.

2. A ski pole' comprising an elongated Shaft having a bottom's'ectiontapered toward the free end thereof, a snow engaging member having anopening therein registering'iwith Said tapered Section above Said freeend thereof, an elastomeric Sleeve engaging Said bottom section belowSaid snow engaging member, a relatively rigid collar embracing andcompressing Said Sleeve, and a peripheral lip on Said Sleeveprojectingbeyond the lower edge of Said collar and of a diameter greaterthan the inside diameter of Said collar.

3. A ski pole comprising an elongated shaft having a bottom Sectiontapered 'toward the free end thereof, an abutment member having anopening thereon tightly engaging Said bottom Section, a snow ring havingan aper- 'tured hub engaging said bottom section and abutting theunderface of said abutment member, an elastomeric Sleeve engaging Saidbottom Section below said hub and terminating at its upper end 'in anintegral peripheral fiange bearing onthe underface of Said hub, and arelatively rigid collar embracing and compressing said Sleeve below saidflange, Said collar being open at both ends thereof and looking saidSleeve and said Snow engaging member to said Shaft.

4. A Ski pole comprising a rigid shaft, a snow engaging member on Saidshaft, and fastening means for Securing said Snow engaging member tosaid Shaft, Said means comprisin'g an elastomeric Sleeve depending fromSaid Snow engaging member and an outwardly eXposed rigid collarembracing and compressing said Sleeve against Said shaft, said collarbeing Open at both ends thereof and locking Said Sleeve and Said Snowengaging member to said Shaft.

` 5. A Ski pole according to claim 4 and Wherein Said Sleeve is underboth peripheral'and longitudinal tension on Said shaft,'andla lowerperipheral lip on said Sleeve projecting beyond the lower edge of'saidcollar and of a diameter greater than the inside diameter of saidcollar.

6. A ski pole according to claim 5 and wherein Said Sleeve is integralwith said snow engaging member and depends downwardly therefrom.

Referenees Cited by the Examiner UNITED STA'rEsV PATENTS V2,328,035 8/43smith 280 1137 2,930,640 3/60 Davisetal. 287 FOREIGN iATENTS 174,5664/53 Austria. 206,799 12/59 Austria. 987,257. 4/51 France.V 428,289`12/47 Italy. 428,912V 1/48 Italy.

BANAMIN HERSH, Prvl'm ary Examiner. A. HARRY LEVY, Examz'u'r.

1. A SKI POLE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SHAFT HAVING A BOTTOM SECTIONTAPERED TOWARD THE FREE AND THEREOF, A SNOW ENGAGING MEMBER HAVING ANOPENING THEREIN REGISTERING WITH SAID TAPERED SECTION ABOVE SAID FREEEND THEREOF, AN ELASTOMERIC SLEEVE ENGAGING SAID BOTTOM SECTION AS WELLAS SAID SNOW ENGAGING MEMBER FOR SECURING SAID SNOW ENGAGING MEMBER TOSAID SHAFT, AND A RELATIVELY RIGID COLLAR ENGAGING AND COMPRESSING SAIDSLEEVE, SAID COLLAR BEING OPEN AT BOTH ENDS THEREOF AND LOCKING SAIDSLEEVE AND SAID SNOW ENGAGING MEMBER TO SAID SHAFT.